TOPIC: JOHN THE BAPTIST DIES FOR THE FAITH
Bible Text: Matthew 14:1-12
Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” Matthew 14:8, NIV
The story of Leah Sharibu, an SS2 student who was among the 110 girls abducted by the Boko Haram Islamic sect on February 19, 2018 at a village called Dapchi, Nigeria is still very fresh in our memory. After government negotiated for their release, the Islamic sect agreed to release all the girls on the condition that they would be converted to Islam. Everyone who was not a Muslim did except a sixteen year old Leah who refused to renounce her faith in Christ for freedom or any other thing.
Our text today reveals how John the Baptist was arrested and imprisoned for doing God’s will (calling the attention of Herod to his sin). Though initially Herod had no plan to kill him, the events that followed, and evil manipulations of his wife resulted in the beheading of John the Baptist.
As children of God, the most important thing to us should be, doing what is right in the eyes of God. Sometimes, taking sides with God may be at the risk of our lives or freedom. We must know that life is worth nothing except it is used in serving God’s purpose.
Insight: There is often a price to pay for standing for righteousness.
Prayer: LORD, please give me the courage to stand for what is right no matter the cost.
RBT Passage: Psalms 95-103